Ignition switch



Sept. 27, 1932. J. LE R. DODSON IGNITION SWITCH Original Filed March 17, 1927- INVENTOR. JflML-IS 1. $0050.

ATTORNEYJL Reissued Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES LE ROY Donson, OFGHICAGO, 'rLLmoIs :IGNITION swr'rcn Original No. 1,748,705, dated February 25, 1930, Serial No. 175,976, filed March 17, 1927. Application for reissue filed December 31, 1931. Serial No. 584,235.

This invention relates to an automatic con-,

trol for vehicles. I

The chief object of this invention is to provide a device for automatically stopping the motor of an automobile when the driver leaves the drivers-seat thereby preventing excessive fuel cost.

Another object of the invention is to permit the motor to be started while the driver is not on the drivers seat but which permissive control is automatically returned to an inoperative or non-permissive position by the driver sitting on the drivers seat which also simultaneouslytherewith permits motor operation through the usual control.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the provision of a seat actuated ignition switch with a shunt connected switch independently operable for circuit closing and automatically operable for circuit opening upon the closing of the first mentioned switch.

The full nature of the invention willbe understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of the self-propelled vehicle including the invention, the same being shown semi-diagrammatic. Fig. 2 is an. enlarged elevational view of the major portion of the invention. Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the switch connection.

In the drawing 10 indicates a chassis supporting an engine not shown and a 'drivers seat support 11. Hingedly supported at 12 thereon or upon the back 13 is a drivers seat 14 and normally maintaining said drivers seat in the slightly elevated position in a spring or springs 15. The engine is controlled by the usual ignition switch 16 and the usual ignition circuit is opened between said switch and the engine and lines 17 and 18 constitute extensions .of the opening in the circuit and are closed by a switch member 19 carried by the movable -member 21, in turn supported by and movable.

with the seat 14 at 27. One form of switch construction comprises a casing 20, a knife switch blade 19 and an actuating member 21, the latter being slidably mounted in aperture 22 in said casing. Member 19 is adapted to close-the circuit between contacts 23 and 24 connected respectivelyv to lines 17 and 18,

thereby closing a circuit therethrough. The switch member 19 is pivotally mounted at 25 and is pivotally connected at 26 to the actuating member, 21. The actuating member 21 is su stantially channel-shaped with a closed end and is detachably connected to theseat 14 by the tongue clamp 27.

When the driver is seated, seat 14 is tilted downwardly in opposition to spring 15 and the member 19 is tilted into the dotted line across the contacts 23 and 24 thereby completing the circuit across the gap in the ignition system between the main ignition switch 16 and the engine. When the driver leaves his seat, spring 15 positions the seat in the upper position, as shown in the full lines in Fig. 2. This causes the member 19 to be positioned out of contact with the switch members which opens the ignition circuit to the engine. The result is stoppage of the engine.

The aforesaid'construction is particularly of value for trucking purposes, such as routes where stops are made varying from two to three minutes or greater. For example, bread delivery routes have anywhere from to 100 stops, the average being about 65 or 70. It requires anywhere from two to eight or ten minutes to deliver bread and get a'receipt or secure payment since the shop-keeper may be otherwise engaged with customers. With stops and a three minute wait at each place normally the engine would idle three hours during aneight or ten hour day. Since the trucks are generally used in the day time considerable economy is obtained by automatically cutting off the engine when the stop is made and starting the engine when the driver end thereof is connected to a lever arm.32. pivotally mounted at, 33 in the, casing 2.0. Lever 32 carries a contact member 34 which, when the rod or wire 31 is pulled, closes the. circuit across the contacts 35 and 36'con nected by lines 37 and 38 to lines- 17: and 18,

respectively. The result is that with theignition switch 16 turned on, the ignition circuit will be closed through the same to the motor since the wire 31 is pulled out and the lever 32' is positioned as shown by the full lines in Fig.2. Lever 32 carries an abutment 39 and 7 member 21 has an agular extension or 00- operating portion 40 which, when the seat 14 is depressed, engages abutment'39 and cams the same from the full line position to the dotted line position, thus returningthe lever 32 to the open circuit position. Just prior to the breaking of thecircuit across the contacts 35 and 36, the'circuit isclosed across' a switch adapted tostop said engine, a movable.

the contacts 23 and 24 sothat operation ofthe engine is not afiected by the opening of one branch circuit and the closing of theother branch circuit. The adjustable member 41 adjusts the initial or open circuit position of the lever 32 suflicient to permit the clearance of the abutment 39' and the shape of the portion 40 issuch that upon return movement 7 of the seat by reason of the driver leavingthe same, the portion 40 serves as an over-running cam and does not-return lever 32 to the closed circuit position.

' The invention claimed 1s:

1. In a motor velncle includ'ingan internal combustion engine, a control therefor, a movably mounted drivers seat movable by the seating of the driver thereon, the combination of a control mechanism automaticallyoperable by the movement of the seat for actuating the control for controllingthe engine, and an auxiliary control of the engine extending toward and terminating adjacent the crank portion of the engine and manually Q operable for rendering ineffective the control imposed by the seat cont-rolled mecha nism.

2. In a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a control therefor, a movably mounted drivers seat movable by the seating of the driver thereon, the combination of 'a control mechanism automatically operable'by the movement of the seat for acsaid engine, a movable drivers seat automatically'changing its position when vacated by the driver and by said change of position actuating said control to stop the engine, and an auxiliary control adapted to control the. starting of; the engine when the engine has been stopped bythe control first named, said auxiliary: control having means through which'it is voluntarily actuated, presented for. manipulation at and accessible to the driver. only when the driver is in a position remote from said seat, saidv seat also having movementupon occupancy by'the driver and having connectionsthrough which, by its last namedmovement, it displaces said auxiliary control Without interrupting the running of the enginefl 4. In a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a control including a drivers seat. automatically changing its position when vacated by the driver and by said change of position actuating said control to stop the engine by opening the switch, an

auxiliary control including a switch in shunt d mote from the seat and supporting the voluntarily actuablexmeans of said auxiliary control' whereby the voluntarily actuable meansis accessible to the driver for manipulation to close the: shunt switch to start the engine only when the. driver is in a position remote from. said seat, said shunt switch being automatically opened when the drivers seat is moved to close the first mentioned switch.

' 5. In amotor vehicle including the combination with an internal combustion engine, an ignition circuit for the engine, and a movable drivers seat automatically changing its position when vacated by the driver, of switch means interposed in the ignition circuit and including a pair of movable switch members, an auxiliary control adapted to control the starting-of the engine when the engine has been stopped and the driver is ofi' the seat and a by moving one of said switch members, said tuating the control for controlling the engine, I

auxiliary control being voluntarily actuated and terminating in an exposed operating portion remote from the seat, another control operatively associated with the other of said switch members for closing said switch member to close the ignition circuit when the driver is on said seat, and a cooperative cam connection between said switch members for automatically returning the first mentioned switch member to open circuit position when the second mentioned switch member is moved to closed circuit position, the second mentioned switch member being automatically movable to open circuit position when the driver leaves the seat.

6. A device as defined by claim 5, characterized by the switch means and cooperating cam connection comprising a unit, said controls being operatively associated therewith, and said drivers seat operable control including a reciprocable portion.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature this 10th day of November,

JAMES LE ROY DODSON. 

